Chapter 171: Rinnegan Surveillance Mission
Jiraiya himself wasn't the concern—what Black Zetsu feared was Mount Myōboku's potential interest in the Rinnegan.
Jiraiya's strength was already renowned throughout the ninja world, and without Madara taking action, Black Zetsu couldn't stop him.
If Jiraiya ever set his sights on the Rinnegan in Nagato's body, Black Zetsu wouldn't be able to stop him—and didn't dare try.
Madara, listening quietly, furrowed his brow slightly. Jiraiya wasn't the real issue. It was those troublesome old toads from Mount Myōboku—Madara knew about them from reading the Uchiha clan's stone tablet.
If he ever appeared before Jiraiya, there was a chance he could be sensed by those old toads.
And what would happen after that was unpredictable.
After a moment of thought, Madara suddenly smiled.
"Let Li Yao handle it. As long as that little brat Jiraiya doesn't try to take the Rinnegan, we won't interfere," Madara said.
What was Li Yao for, if not for dealing with problems?
Why hesitate, when he had a piece like Li Yao?
"Understood. I'll notify him right away." White Zetsu nodded and sank into the earth to find Li Yao.
With Li Yao on watch, there wasn't anyone in the current ninja world capable of stealing the Rinnegan from under his nose.
In this way, the Rinnegan remained secure.
…
In the valley.
Li Yao had been training diligently. At the crack of dawn, he began his day of genjutsu practice—with the voluptuous woman.
Yuzu was also hard at work. On the other side of the valley, she was tormenting Fanma Renza with all kinds of physical torture. The little girl had clearly gone completely twisted.
Li Yao didn't bother intervening. Let her do as she liked.
"Hm… why is White Zetsu here?"
Li Yao suddenly frowned. Three kilometers away, he sensed White Zetsu surfacing—clearly here to find him.
He patted the voluptuous woman to signal her to move aside.
After she stepped away, Li Yao stood, used a Water Release technique to rinse the salt off his body, and went to meet White Zetsu.
Soon, the two met in a grove.
"Lord Madara has a mission for you…"
White Zetsu explained the task: protect the Rinnegan in Nagato's body. "Your job is to make sure Jiraiya doesn't take the Rinnegan."
"Got it," Li Yao nodded. He neither refused nor had any right to. "Do I leave now?"
"Yes," White Zetsu nodded. The sooner Li Yao arrived, the better.
"Understood," Li Yao said. He then returned, called for Yuzu , and brought Fanma Renza's family as well.
"We're leaving here, Uncle?" Yuzu asked curiously.
"Yeah." Li Yao nodded, then looked toward Fanma Renza's family and said, "I've got work to do. You can handle these people now."
Since he wouldn't be around to continue using the woman for training, there was no need to keep them alive.
Even though he'd once carefully selected her, so what?
Li Yao felt no attachment.
"Hehe, leave it to me."
Yuzu grinned, her twisted face lighting up as she walked toward the trembling Fanma Renza and his family.
"No… please… just kill me quickly…"
"No… ahhh…"
Screams quickly echoed as Li Yao walked away to wait outside for Yuzu .
"Hm… what's this?"
A while later, Li Yao suddenly turned back, activating his full-range soul perception—but he couldn't find Fanma Renza's soul.
"Where did it go?"
Li Yao frowned in confusion.
Earlier, as Yuzu killed Fanma Renza and his family, he had sensed the souls of the sisters and mother fading away normally.
But Fanma Renza's soul didn't fade. It was simply… gone. Like something had taken it.
"Where to… the Pure Land!"
Li Yao's expression changed. He suddenly realized where Fanma Renza's soul had gone—it had been taken into the Pure Land by the Sage of Six Paths.
But…
"Why didn't the mother and sisters' souls get taken?"
He was puzzled. The only difference seemed to be whether or not they had chakra.
Did the Sage of Six Paths only take ninja souls? Were ordinary souls beneath his notice?
Still puzzled, Yuzu returned. Her face was spattered with blood. She casually wiped it, the crimson streaks giving her a twisted beauty—like a bloodstained queen.
"Let's go."
Li Yao pushed those thoughts aside. Now wasn't the time.
He summoned a clay bird, climbed on, and with Yuzu following, they flew toward the Land of Rain. White Zetsu occasionally popped up ahead to guide them.
A day later, they passed through the Land of Rice Fields.
Li Yao stopped, created a shadow clone, and gave it its own clay bird. The clone mounted it.
"I've got something to do. I can't take you with me," Li Yao said to Yuzu . "You'll go to the Land of Rice Fields with my clone. He'll protect you."
Madara didn't want too many people to know about the Rinnegan. Li Yao couldn't bring Yuzu along.
The Land of Rice Fields was the best place to leave her.
There was no ninja village there, no strategic resources, and its geography kept it out of the warzones. Plus, it bordered the Land of Fire. The great nations avoided it, and the smaller ones feared the Fire Nation too much to invade.
That made it one of the few peaceful countries during this time of global conflict.
Yuzu would be much safer there. With his clone protecting her, she'd be just fine.
"Uncle… are you abandoning me?"
Hearing they would be separated, Yuzu didn't move. Her lips quivered, and her eyes welled up with tears. She stared at Li Yao with fear.
She was terrified of being abandoned again. That deep fear and helplessness from before came flooding back, making her whole body tremble.
Li Yao frowned slightly. He hated disobedience—but this was Kushi 's daughter, the girl who had saved his life. He'd still try to be patient.
But some things had to be made clear. Girls grow up. Sooner or later, they'd have to face reality.
"There's something I never told you," Li Yao said seriously. "I'm not from the Uzumaki clan."
"…Ah?" Yuzu blinked in disbelief. Her pupils shrank as she stared at him. But after a moment, she lunged forward, hugging him tightly like an abandoned puppy, sobbing, "I only have you, Uncle… please don't leave me…"
To her, it didn't matter anymore if Li Yao was part of her clan.
He had saved her—twice—when she was most desperate. To her, he was more than family. He was her uncle in every way that mattered.
"Sigh."
Li Yao exhaled, gently hugged the girl back, and patted her on the back. "I'm not leaving you. I just have something to do that you can't be part of. My shadow clone will stay with you. If anything happens, I'll come."
He then gently pushed her away, placing both hands on her shoulders and said seriously, "So listen. Stay in the Land of Rice Fields with my clone, and wait for me."
In the original timeline, Jiraiya didn't stay with Nagato very long—maybe a year or two. Once he left, Li Yao would be free again.
But until then, he couldn't keep Yuzu with him.
"I…" Yuzu wanted to protest, but faced with Li Yao's serious gaze, she froze. Afraid of upsetting him, she reluctantly nodded, "I understand."
Then she looked up anxiously, staring into his eyes. "Uncle… you have to come back, okay?"
She was still afraid he'd never return.
Li Yao nodded, smiling. "I will. I promise."
"Then… I'll go."
"Mm. Go."
With a heavy heart, Yuzu stepped onto the clay bird beneath the shadow clone and flew toward the Land of Rice Fields.
Li Yao, meanwhile, continued his journey toward the Land of Rain, guided by White Zetsu.
(END CHAPTER)
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